That’s a crying shame about your son. I hope pulls through.

You’ve pinpointed some of the reasons why a lot of people in the UK are against health insurance. There are just some things were it is better for the state to provide, for the common good. Defence, law enforcement and to many minds healthcare.

At the same time, I and many others do not trust the government – because of the manifest incompetence with which it usually conducts itself. The health service especially!

Some countries have opted for a middle ground, a state health system like the UK but with significant insurance elements. But none of them are great. We’re still looking for the “third way”.

One of the blunt comparisons is the conception that if you fall ill in the UK, you will be treated no question. If it happens in the US, the ambulance crew won’t even try to resuscitate you until they’ve swiped your credit card. That isn’t entirely accurate, but is the popular image over here of a healh system based in the private sector.